Elmer E. Findley
Agency patch
Policeman

Elmer E. Findley

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch December 29, 1891
Age 27
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 7 mo
The Vigil Panel 11 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman Elmer Findley was shot and instantly killed by an 18-year-old man he had caught in the act of breaking and entering a store at Fourth Street and Commerce Street. Another policeman was shot in the arm by the subject, who was later captured.

The suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison February 27th, 1893.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

135 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Policeman Findley gave the Philadelphia Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 29, 1891
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 7 mo
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Elmer is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1891, 62 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 121st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Elmer was 27. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Elmer had served 1.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Philadelphia Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Elmer among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Policeman Elmer E. Findley

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch December 29, 1891

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 52-E

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